Chapter 165: Family Time

Mark's POV

My mother and I have become closer together, we worked our differences out and I just gave her the chance that I think that she deserved. She loves our kids and I love to see that she interacts with them. Seeing her with them just breaks my heart because I think about my father. I wish that he was alive to see his grandkids, to see my mother with them. He would've loved them and showered them with plenty of gifts too. I sit down in the recliner, watching Lana sketch on her sketch pad on the ground. My mother watches them too, while Gray makes tea for my mother and whatever the kids wanted.

I started to teach Gray how to cook and she is improving, but she still hates it. "I remember when you were their age, you would run around the house, playing all by yourself, my friends and I would sit in the garden with our tea parties and catch up. I always watched you despite how I felt about you at the time," she says. "I should've used that time with you instead of my friends." she lets out a breath.

"Dad was there for me, he kept me entertained." I look at Jordan, riding his truck on the ground, making car sounds. "He was there for me and I'm okay with that. We cannot change the past." I say.

" I'm sorry for being a bad mother." she says, and I look at her.

"We are here now and that is what matters. These kids love you, so don't take that away from them." I say.

"I will never do that." she says.

"Good." I say as Gray brings the tea for my mother.

"Grandma, what did you do when you grew up?" Lana asks her as she sits up on the ground to look at my mother. My mother holds her cup of tea in her hand.

"I was a housewife." she says.

"What does a housewife do?"

I chuckle, all of a sudden Lana wants to know what people want to be or has done as a career. "It is when a woman is married..." my mother thinks of the right words to say and I chuckle because this is a tough one for my mother. She had no job or career. " When a husband works, then the wife stays at home and has tea parties." she says as she takes a sip of her tea.

Lana looks confused. "I don't think that I want to be a housewife one day, it sounds too boring." Lana shrugs and I laugh.

"That's my girl." I say, she will be in business and she will be running my company when the time comes. I am preparing her for that soon.

"Oh no, that is not too boring, young lady. Being a housewife is quite nice." my mother says.

"That is not for me, maybe for you." she says.

I guess Lana gets all that from me. "Mother, stop teaching her the wrong things, I want her to work, to have a career and I want her to take over Sternpoint when I retire or pass away." I say.

"Oh gosh, you are making me sound so old." my mother says.

"You are, mother." I state.

"Someone is awake." Gray says as she holds Weston in her arms and she hands him over to my mother after she places the cup of tea down on the coffee table. Weston is in her arms, he is making bubbles with his mouth. He is five months old.

I sit up with him at night in the rocking chair and he does get a bit fussy, but it is dying down. He always falls asleep as I rock him on the rocking chair. He loves Gray more, he loves being by her. He is a mommy's boy. When I think about it, three kids is enough for me to handle. I don't think that I can handle another one. We have our hands full with these three already.

My life has changed a lot since becoming a father. They were now our first priority and our careers came second. What is still bothering me is the fact that I haven't seen Reggie, this rift between us grew bigger and I want to reach out to him but Jamie is stopping me from doing that. I still have this feeling that I do not trust her at all.

The last time, I heard from Pedro was that they are married now and living their lives with their son. Perhaps I should just reach out to Reggie and put my feelings aside because I miss him.

"Daddy, can I go with you to work tomorrow? I want to show them my sketch book." Lana says.

"You have school tomorrow, but I will fetch you and you can come with me." I say.

She nods with a smile as she continues to sketch, happy with my answer. One thing about Lana is that she can sketch the whole day. The house could be quiet and she will be in her room. When Gray was little, she wanted to be read stories most of the time. I thought that she would be into publishing but I was wrong.

When Lana takes over my company, then she can broaden anything that she wants. I will teach her all about it when she is older. The difference between us both is that my father taught me all about it since I was her age, but I don't want to do the same right now.

I am happy with everything as it is now except that I need to call Reggie soon rather than later. I cannot allow this rift to stay between us. He was there for me all the time when I needed a friend and I threw that away. I have to fix it soon. I will have a talk with Gray and hope that she will understand.

Gray's POV

After Rose left, the kids continued to play in the lounge. Mark sat down on the sofa next to me as he held Weston on his lap. My little family. We still have to try for another one, but not anytime soon. I wish that we just had the three of them.

"It seems just like yesterday that it was just the two of us," he says.

"Well, we probably would've waited to have kids. It only took that one time. Amber likes to call your sperm mighty. She thought differently when we were struggling to fall pregnant with Jordan." I say.

"I can't believe that you two discuss those things," he says. Weston is watching his brother and sister play. He can be a sweet one.

I take his little hand in mine. " Sometimes I think about if these three are enough for us. They can be a handful," he says.

"It is a lot of work. It was your dream to have four. It is up to you, but if you want the fourth one then please give me some time." I say.

"I will give you all the time that you need. I am happy with these three." he says.

"I wanted to discuss Lana with you." I say.

"What about her?" he asks as I look at him.

"She told me that you wanted her to do business which she doesn't quite understand. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and she said a painter or a ballerina. She then said what you informed her." I say.

"I prefer that she starts early with the preparation of getting to know the business industry. Perhaps when she is close to finishing high school." he says.

"I think that you are trying to do what your father has done with you when it came to Sternpoint." I say and his brows furrow as he holds my gaze.

"You know nothing about that." he says slowly, as if I hit a nerve.

"Mark, I want her to follow her dreams and not to be told what she can and cannot do with her life when she is older. No child of ours should live a life like that. Yours may be different, but they would want to do what they love." I say. Mark's jaw clenches as he looks at Lana. "Let her do what she loves, you can still teach her about business but allow her to do what she wants as a career. You do not want her to become cold and have hatred towards you because you tried to control her." I say.

"So I'm controlling again." he states as he stands up with Weston still in his arms. His legs dangling over Mark's arms.

"Mark, I didn't mean it like that." I say.

" I'm going to put Weston to sleep." he says and he walks away.

I let out a breath. "Mommy, why is daddy mad?" Jordan asks me as he sits next to me on the sofa.

"Daddy is just tired, that is all." I say as I take him into my embrace and I place a kiss on the top of his head. "How are you feeling?" I ask after the pool scare.

"I feel fine." he says as he looks down at the toy truck on his lap.

"You can show your friends that you have a new truck." I say.

"I can't wait." he says excitedly.

"Aunt Amber and uncle Mariko are coming over later." I say "So you can show them too." He nods. He gets off the sofa and he runs up the stairs.

"I can show Bradley my sketch." Lana says, and I smile at her. "I don't like to see daddy mad. He sometimes makes me scared when he is mad." she says, as she looks down with sadness.

"There is nothing to be afraid of when he gets mad. That is just how he is and when you get mad then you will have your own way of showing it." I smile at her.

"You don't scare me when you're mad." she says as she looks up at me.

"I handle it in a different way than your father. But he loves you very much and you two are very close to each other. You are his everything. He will protect you from anyone and you are also the only girl.

"That means that I'm daddy's only princess." she says.

"Yes, you are our only princess." I say and she smiles, happy with the answer. "You will always be loved, no matter what. You have always made it through any challenges that life has brought our way. You hang onto life and you are growing up to be a beautiful princess. Do not let anyone steal your shine and your crown. Straighten it and walk with your head held high at all times, do not show anyone your tears and speak when you need to. Don't allow daddy to make decisions about what you want to be when you grow up. Enjoy it because you will love your dreams." I say.

She just smiles at me. "I will be in my room." she say as she takes her sketching pad and walks up the stairs. Mark and I have to talk about this and we cannot leave it the way that it is.

I walk up the stairs and I enter the nursery where Mark is sitting on the rocking chair, rocking Weston to sleep. "Can we talk?" I ask.

"Yes." he says.

"I just want Lana to be happy with what she wants to do in life. She can still learn about the business and have it when you retire or pass away. But please allow her to do what she wants." I say.

He looks up at me. "I think you're right. I don't want to be a bad father by forcing business on her at a young age, but I'm getting older, Gray. You know that life is short," he says.

"I know, but don't let that make her feel any hatred towards you at the end of the day." I say. He nods at what I say.

"I was thinking about Reggie. I miss him as a friend. I felt like I just lost him due to this rift between us because of Jamie. They are married and I want to reach out. I want to know how he is doing." he says as he looks at me and there is sadness in his eyes.

"Then call him if you want to reach out to him." I say.

"I don't want to just call him. I want things to be like old times. I want him to come over and hang out. I know that won't happen because of Jamie. All I want is for us to put our differences aside and forgive. Give Jamie a chance and I will too." he says.

"Its hard for me when she tried to plan something to get you." I say.

"She is married now. Do you honestly think that she would do that now?" he asks.

"You never know." I shrug.

"Come on, Gray. I will not lose my friend because of her." he says.

"Okay, fine. I will try." I say.

"Thank you. I will call him in the morning." he says as he gets up from the rocking chair with Weston fast asleep. I move out of the way so that he could place Weston in the crib. He turns around to face me. He holds me around my waist, bringing me closer to him. "I want to be the best father, husband and friend. I love you so much, Gray. You have given me things that I could never imagine having in my entire life. This little family of ours is my huge happiness, my blessing. If I had only known before what my life would've looked like. I would've waited for you. That doesn't matter now, because my life has changed completely. Lana is our miracle because she brought my mother closer to us and she is changing. Something that I never saw coming...ever. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. No one will take away what we have. Our love is strong to stand against anything that has been designed to tear us apart. We will not break or crumble. I want our kids to be the same, to remain standing in times of trouble and with challenges coming their way. We will be here to guide them all the way. You are a great mother, Gray. You have grown into a beautiful woman and you surprise me every day. Being parents is continuing to teach us things every day. My life is complete with you. It will always be," he says.

"I love you and you are great. I'm also very proud of you. You remain to be my everything. My dream come true." I say.

Mark places a chaste kiss on my lips. I love this man with everything in me.